Hawkeyes sweep Scorpions, bag D-L Foundation Cup title
Cignal HD quelled a Centro Escolar University rally in the fourth quarter as the Hawkeyes fashioned out a 79-69 victory over the Scorpions to sweep the Foundation Cup crown and annex their second straight PBA D-League championship at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig last night.
The Hawkeyes rode on a big second run to pull away by 15 points then posted their biggest lead at 69-50 early in the fourth before fending off the Scorpions’ late charge to win their best-ofthree series, 2-0.
Cignal HD, which took Game One, 78-56, thus became only the third franchise to win back-toback – after NLEX and Phoenix – following its Aspirants’ Cup romp early in the season.
“I think this is sweeter. Nobody expected us to win a championship right now. We changed our lineup a couple of times. Last conference, we had the San Beda core then coming into this conference, we got some guys who really had to adjust to the system right away. It’s really the effort of the players who really wanted to win a championship. It’s really sweet if you win with hard work and sacrifices,” said Cignal HD coach Boyet Fernandez, who also made a record of sorts by nailing his eighth title in the league.
Jonathan Uyloan and Oping Sumalinog combined for three triples to key Cignal’s breakway at the onset of the fourth but the Scorpions countered with a 15-5 flurry capped by five straight points by Patrick Aquino to close the gap at 65-74 with 1:19 to go.
Arboleda, however, canned five free throws in the final 43.7 that sandwiched a layup by CEU’s JK Casino, to finish off the Scorpions.
Cignal HD also did it without Conference MVP Raymar Jose, who missed the finals to backstop the Gilas cadets in the ongoing Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.
The scores: Cignal HD 79 – Sumalinog 13, Arboleda 13, Uyloan 11, Perkins 8, Apinan 7, Bringas 6, Raymundo 6, Villarias 5, Sara 4, Batino 4, Cahilig 2.
CEU 69 – Ebondo 20, Wamar 11, Guinitaran 9, Casiño 8, Aquino 7, Jeruta 7, Manlangit 4, Baconcon 3, Arim 0, Cruz 0, Intic 0, Saber 0, Uri 0.
Quarterscores: 21-16, 45-30, 60-48, 79-69